NRI PULSE STAFF REPORT
New York, NY, June 10, 2026: For many immigrants, success is often measured in milestones—a coveted degree, a dream job, or a life built far from home. For Abhijay Arora Vuyyuru, a Harvard MBA graduate and AI product manager at Google, one recent milestone carried a deeper meaning: seeing his mother’s face on a billboard in New York City’s Times Square.
In a heartfelt Instagram post that has resonated with thousands, Vuyyuru shared photos of himself and his mother standing together on a Times Square billboard, accompanied by a tribute to the woman he credits for making his journey possible.
“Last week, my mom was on a Times Square billboard,” he wrote. “And I refused to stand on it alone. Because I didn’t get here alone.”
Vuyyuru, who grew up in Panchkula, India, said his mother raised him single-handedly and made countless sacrifices to ensure he received the best education possible.
“She sent me to the best schools—while she studied from second-hand books,” he wrote.
The post paints a picture familiar to many immigrant families: a parent quietly putting aside personal dreams so that a child can pursue bigger opportunities. Vuyyuru recalled his mother’s unconditional support through both triumphs and setbacks.
“I have watched her cry when I have failed,” he wrote. “I promised her one day I’d make her proud.”
That promise came full circle when the two stood beneath the giant digital display in Times Square.
“Today, when she saw herself on a Times Square billboard, I saw tears in her eyes again,” he wrote. “This time: tears of joy.”
Vuyyuru said his path to success was built on years of sacrifice behind the scenes. He recalled his mother waking up at 4 a.m. to help him prepare for classes while he was still in high school. Later, after earning admission to Harvard Business School, she continued to encourage him during uncertain moments, including a period after graduation when he was struggling to find employment.
“Even after Harvard, when I was graduating without a job, she told me to believe in myself when nobody else did,” he wrote.
Now working in artificial intelligence at Google, Vuyyuru used the post to reflect on the broader immigrant experience.
“To every immigrant chasing this dream: Never forget the people who sacrificed their dreams so you could chase yours,” he wrote.
Vuyyuru, who has built a large online following focused on career development and technology, also used the moment to encourage others pursuing careers in the rapidly growing AI field. He said he regularly celebrates personal milestones by giving back and offering career guidance to aspiring professionals.
But amid the discussions about jobs, education, and artificial intelligence, the image that captured the most attention was a simple one: a son sharing the spotlight with his mother.
“This one’s for you, Mom,” he wrote.
Cover photo courtesy: Abhijay Arora Vuyyuru/Instagram.
